The pursuit of excellence and innovation within our Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) learning communities has played an integral role in our system's growth.

The formal recognition of these collective efforts is a longstanding tradition. It remains our pleasure, therefore, to invite all of our school communities to participate in the TCDSB Innovative Exemplary Practice Award.

Each year, TCDSB proudly acknowledges innovative group programs and special projects at local schools with the TCDSB Innovative Exemplary Practice Award. Each Exemplary Innovative Practice application will be submitted by the Principal of the school. Submissions will be reviewed by a committee and each winning school will be the recipient of a $750 award, which will be directed to sustaining the project.

All submissions are to be submitted to Richard Walo, Superintendent, Area 1 - richard.walo@tcdsb.org.

Categories

In order to encourage a diverse range of project submissions, we are pleased to present a streamlined list of categories that will guide the application/recognition process. It is our belief that the promotion of targeted diverse local practices will validate the impressive efforts of our talented employees and act as a springboard for the creation of larger scale exemplary practices. It is in building and celebrating these local emerging practices that we will be able to create a network of progressive and collaborative leaders who will sustain our system's impressive growth.

This year, one school-based practice will be acknowledged in each of the following areas:

Innovative 21C informed differentiated instructional classroom practices which place a clear emphasis on high levels of achievement in literacy and numeracy
Innovative teacher inquiry and networking practices which foster a culture of high expectations and support the belief that all students can learn, progress and achieve
Innovative Catholic leadership practices which reflect an authentic sensitivity to the issues that impact student learning and well-being.
Innovative student leadership initiatives which foster the development of a wide range of transferrable skills such as teamwork, advocacy and global citizenship.
Innovative administrative leadership practices which promote a culture of leadership development and strong leadership succession.
Innovative mental health initiatives that incorporate student voice into the teaching/learning journey.
Innovative special needs student supports that meet the learning needs, interests and aspirations of all students.
Innovative parent engagement initiatives that integrate the role of home, parish, school and community.
Innovative community partnerships that facilitate opportunities for experiential learning.
Innovative Safe School practices/interventions designed to sustain positive student behavior in a safe, inclusive and healthy learning environment.
Innovative school-wide practices/interventions designed to celebrate and promote diversity, equitable outcomes and inclusion in the learning environment, and/or dismantle racism and oppression.

Sharing these categories with all stakeholders early will encourage implementation and simultaneously assist all of us in facilitating the required planning and reflection during a time of transition. Please video tape promising practices over the course of their implementation as the work of our award winners (video and project profiles) will be showcased on this site.

Submission Criteria

All submissions must follow the established criteria:

Exemplify an innovative emerging approach that addresses one of the above-noted areas. The project's alignment with the Ontario Curriculum and our Catholic Graduate Expectations will also be considered;
Align with the strategic directions articulated in the Multi-Year Strategic Plan;
Infuse the principles of equity and inclusion.;
Are developed and implemented by a group of staff members;
Are rooted in current theory and research and translate into best educational practices;
Will be sustained in the next school year;
Include a communication plan for parents and the community at large;
Have the ability to be replicated at other schools;
Are accompanied by a portfolio of artifacts related to the practice including, but not limited to, student work, photographs, videos and documents.

Please note that each school is limited to a single submission. Collaborative projects involving multiple schools should be submitted as one entry, clearly identifying all participating institutions. Only one award will be granted per submission.

About TCDSB

Innovative Exemplary Practice Awards

Innovative Exemplary Practice Awards

Business Leadership Award

Dr. Jim Saraco Staff Leadership Award

2025 Innovative Exemplary Practice Awards Recipients

Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic School (Creating Inclusive Environments: Celebrating Diversity and Promoting Equity)

St. Martin de Porres Catholic School (Student Leadership, Wellness, and Literacy Initiative)

St. Margaret Catholic School (Promoting Wellness and Healthy Living)

St. Mary Catholic Academy (Inclusivity, Sport and Student Leadership)

Monsignor Percy Johnson Catholic Secondary School (Flame Fashion Show: Resilience, Love, Hope, Belonging and Community)

Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School (Celebrating Excellence and Career Pathways)

St. Paul Catholic School (Healing, Empowerment and Student Well-Being)

St. Michael Catholic School (Mental Health Action Team: Words Matter Initiative)

St. Leo Catholic School (Creative Crochet: Weaving Math Skills and Student Leadership)

St. Patrick Catholic Secondary School (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: A Celebration of Student Creativity and Community Connection)

Immaculate Conception Catholic School (Mathematics Growth: Guided by Faith and Teamwork)

St. Charles Garnier Catholic School (Integrating Catholic Values into Student Well-Being Initiatives)